Man Hailed As Hero For Saving Children After Crash

INDIANAPOLIS -- A Shelby County man credits God with putting him in the right place at the right time to help save the lives of two young children.

Eric Thomas was honored as a hero Thursday night by the Greater Indianapolis Red Cross for his actions after a March 12 crash in Bartholomew County, 6News' Renee Jameson reported.

Kelly Jones was driving, her sister, Deborah Marlow, was riding in the front seat, while their three children were buckled in the back. Jones, unfamiliar with the road, ran a stop sign and was struck by another vehicle.

Marlow said she was terrified when she turned to check on the children.

"Just looking back into the car and seeing three children with their heads down, you just don't know what's going to happen," she said. "I didn't know if my kids were going to make it or not."

Thomas drove up to the intersection just minutes after the crash. With only high school CPR training, Thomas stepped in to help 2-year-old Alexander Jones and 9-month-old Gracelyn Marlow, both of whom weren't breathing.

"As I pulled (Gracelyn) out, I turned her over and got her to breathe again," Thomas recounted.

After that, he turned to Alexander, and the boy was breathing again in a matter of minutes.

"I just thank God he was able to work through me and help this boy so that he could make a full recovery," Thomas said.

The families, along with the children, joined Thomas at Victory Field Thursday night, where he received a certificate of valor from the Red Cross.

"If it wasn't for Eric, we don't know what would have happened," Marlow said. "He's a miracle in my eyes. He's not just a hero; he's a guardian angel to us."

Still, Thomas said he remains humble about the award.

"I just think I was there at the right place and somebody needed to do something," he said. "I'm glad I was able to help out."

Both of the children had surgery after the crash and are both expected to make a full recovery. The third child suffered only minor injuries in the crash.